Homer Alaska - Announcements

Story last updated at
3:17 PM on
Wednesday, October 3, 2012

Homer's Best Bets

Sometimes the calendar confuses the Betster. It doesn't help that every year for Christmas the Betster always seems to get an international calendar with holidays listed like Oct. 8, Thanksgiving. Holy Maple Leaf! The Betster had to look twice at that one. It turns out it's Canadian Thanksgiving, which the Betster didn't even know our neighbors to the east have. Well, why shouldn't Canadians be thankful? It makes sense to celebrate a good harvest this time of year.

Photo by Michael Armstrong

Busking his way north Kevin Moe of Laramie, Wyo., plays the bagpipes on Pioneer Avenue on Monday. Moe is visiting Homer and put a tip jar out while playing. "I really love the sound they make and the feeling you get when you hear them," he said of the bagpipes.

Also confusing is that Monday is listed as Columbus Day, or as the Betster's Norwegian friends call the holiday, "The Second European Discoverer of America Day." The B. sometimes forgets things, but is pretty darn sure that Oct. 12 is Columbus Day, since it's also the Betster's sister's birthday (Happy Birthday, sis). The Betster has to be reminded that federal workers have complex holiday schedules which arrange for them to take lots of Mondays off.

Not that holidays matter in a town where so many of us work straight through the summer on the theory that you can sleep next winter. A lot of fishermen and tourist industry workers have been sleeping since Sept. 4, the day after Labor Day, which isn't always Sept. 3. You see? Confusing.

Holidays or not, every day has the potential for lots of fun when there's so much to do in this quirky little town, like some of these Best Bets:

BEST ART CRUISE BET: It's hard to get confused about the date of the monthly First Friday art openings because, well, they're always on the First Friday of the month. Even though the tourist season is over, most galleries have shows. Don't miss the Pratt Museum's Ritz Art Preview, your chance to check out art to go up for auction next month for the Ritz gala fundraiser. See gallery openings, page 10.

BEST BIRD AND BAG BET: This works out well. For the Kachemak Bay Birders' annual First Saturday bird outing, meet at the Spit at 10 a.m. and see what's shown up. But wait  after the birding adventure, stick around from 1 to 3 p.m. for a Community Coastwalk Cleanup at Mud Bay. Meet for both events at the base of the Spit and of course wear rubber boots and warm clothing.

BEST PINK POWER BET: October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, which might explain why things are looking a little pink these days. Start the month out with a showing of "Thrive and Survive: Hope, Laughter & Truth," way-talented Anchorage filmmaker Mary Katzke's story filmed in Homer and Halibut Cove about women who didn't let the Big C get them down. It shows from 4 to 5:30 p.m. Saturday in the Rec Room.

BEST HELPING OUT BET: Yet again one of our neighbors needs some help with medical care, like firefighter and EMT John Cox. Toss some Ben Franklins his way at a benefit auction at 3 p.m. Sunday at the Down East Saloon.